Adult Learning

Expand your Jewish knowledge and friendships by being part of our growing community of lifelong learners. Please check our calendar for more information on Adult Learning opportunities for 2017-2018. We also invite you to learn more about our collection in the Rabbi Richard B. Safran Library.

Talmud Class - A weekly Talmud Class on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. If the Bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, then Talmud is the central pillar. The Bible gives us Jewish concepts. The Talmud defines how to apply those concepts within any particular context. Join Rabbi Lenny when we discuss how the concepts in the Talmud apply today in Fort Wayne and are relevant in our personal lives. Check the calendar for dates and times. We also offer the class via TempleConnect for those who are not able to attend in person.

Adult B'nei Mitzvah Study - Didn't have a bar or bat mitzvah as a child? Rabbi Lenny invites any adult member of our congregation who would like to study toward this milestone to join a new class beginning in November. The group will meet about an hour each week for several months, before separating into smaller groups or for individual study with the rabbi to work toward a chosen week to be called to the Torah. Please contact Rabbi Lenny at (260) 744-4245 or rabbi@templecav.org to find out more.

Weekly Torah Learning - During our Friday evening services, Rabbi Lenny reads from the Torah and offers insights into the weekly portion and wisdom of Judaism. Check the calendar for dates and times. Coming this year: A monthly Shabbat morning service and Torah learning.

Introduction to Judaism - This class is for non-affiliated individuals and interfaith couples interested in exploring Judaism, as well as for those considering becoming Jewish. Contact Rabbi Lenny at rabbi@TempleCAV.org or 260-744-4245 for more information.Seven Species of Israel - During the year, we'll explore the Seven Species of plants grown in Israel - olives, grapes, pomegranates, barley, wheat, figs, and dates - without leaving northeast Indiana. We began in August learning through the Torah portion, sampling the species, and celebrating Havdalah in the Vineyards. In November, we learned about barley with a beer tasting and tour of Chapman's Brewery in Angola. Our January program looks at olives, including an olive oil tasting with Lori Berndt of The Olive Twist. Save the date to join us on Sunday, April 29 when we share a Taste of the Seven Species with Chef Marla Cohen.

"Green" House Tour - Temple members in September toured Green Oak Farm, the new LEED-certified home built by Temple members Janet & Andy Katz as part of their commitment to tikkun olam (saving the world) and the environment. Find out more.

Temple Book Club - Join us for our 2017-2018 Temple Book Club when we discuss a book and talk to the author through our video-conference system. Plan to join us on these Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the Madge Rothschild Resource Center:

Black History Month Program - Temple Member Wendy Soltz, Executive Director of the Indiana Jewish Historical Society, will offer a special program on Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m. on her research on Jewish connections to historically black colleges. Find out more. This is part of our Hot Topics Shabbat Series.

Hot Topics Shabbat - Explore current events periodically throughout the year following an abbreviated Shabbat service. On March 9, Judge Fran Gull joins us to discuss the Allen Superior Court's Drug Court. Find out more.

Adult B'nei Mitzvah Study

Rabbi Lenny invites any adult member of our congregation who has not had a bar or bat mitzvah to join him for a new class to study toward achieving this milestone. The group will meet about an hour each week for several months, before separating into smaller groups or individual study with the rabbi to work toward a chosen week to be called to the Torah. Each person’s time frame will vary based on the needs of the student and the chosen Shabbat. Please contact Rabbi Lenny at (260) 744-4245 or rabbi@templecav.org to find out more.

Mah Jongg In The Madge Rothschild Resource Center

Some 30 people participated in our Mah Jongg Workshop to learn about the centuries-old Chinese game that has been a staple for years among Jewish-Americans. Participants watched the documentary film The Tiles That Bind, heard Gregg Swain, author of Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game, speak about the history of the connection between the Jewish community and the game, examined the artwork depicted on various mah jongg tiles, and learned the details of the card.

Now we're scheduling open play in the Temple’s new Madge Rothschild Resource Center. Please sign up. If you'd like to join our e-mail list to be notified about future mah jongg opportunities, please contact us at office@templecav.org.

Genealogy and the Holocaust

Temple member Irv Adlershared the latest information on his search through Holocaust records to find out more information about his grandmother and family during a recent adult education program at the Temple. Learn more.